Inclusion & SEND
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities provision at Ferndown Upper School
New to SEN? Read our parent's guide
Plain-English explanations of every SEN type, what to look for, and how schools can help
SEN Overview
16.2%
Total SEN
189 pupils with identified needs
41
EHCP
Education, Health & Care Plan
148
SEN Support
School-based support without EHCP
21.7%
Free School Meals
Eligible for pupil premium
5.8%
EAL
English as an Additional Language
Primary Need Breakdown
Types of SEN at This School
Combined EHCP and SEN Support pupils by primary need category
SpLDSpecific Learning Difficulty
7740.7%
Includes dyslexia, dyscalculia — bright children who find certain learning harder
SEMHSocial, Emotional & Mental Health
4021.2%
Difficulty managing feelings, anxiety, or behaviour — not about being ‘naughty’
SLCNSpeech, Language & Communication
2915.3%
Struggles with speaking, understanding language, or expressing thoughts
MLDModerate Learning Difficulty
136.9%
Learns at a slower pace and needs more support across subjects
ASDAutism Spectrum Disorder
115.8%
Affects how a child experiences social situations, routines, and sensory input
OtherOther Difficulty / Disability
94.8%
Other difficulties not covered by the categories above
NSASEN — No Specialist Assessment
63.2%
SEN identified but formal specialist assessment not yet completed
HIHearing Impairment
21.1%
Deaf or partial hearing loss, may affect speech and language development
PDPhysical Disability
10.5%
Physical conditions affecting mobility or coordination — doesn’t affect intelligence
VIVisual Impairment
10.5%
Blind or partially sighted, needs adapted materials and environment
EHCP vs SEN Support
Provision Level Comparison
How SEN needs are split between EHCP (statutory plan) and SEN Support (school-based)
| Need Type | EHCP | SEN Support | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| SpLD | 13 | 64 | 77 |
| SEMH | 10 | 30 | 40 |
| SLCN | 10 | 19 | 29 |
| MLD | 1 | 12 | 13 |
| ASD | 3 | 8 | 11 |
| Other | 2 | 7 | 9 |
| NSA | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| HI | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| PD | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| VI | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 41 | 148 | 189 |
Understanding This Data
📋 EHCP
An Education, Health and Care Plan is a legally binding document that outlines a child's special educational needs and the support they must receive. EHCPs are issued by the Local Authority following a formal assessment.
🤝 SEN Support
SEN Support is the school-based provision for children identified as having special needs but who do not require an EHCP. The school's SENCO coordinates this support through the "graduated approach" of assess, plan, do, review.
🔍 SEN Information Report
Every school must publish a SEN Information Report on their website, detailing what support they offer, how they identify needs, and how they allocate resources. Contact the school's SENCO for more detail.